Nonsinkable hull for vessels



Patented Sept. 24, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WILLIAM H. OWEN, FIDALOU, TEXAS, ASSIGNQR OFl ONZE-IFO'UR'IH` TO WILLIAM GROAT, 0F IDALOU,TEXAS, AND ONE-FOURTH T0 J. W. HUFF, 0F LUBBOCK COUNTY,

TEXAS NoNsINxABLE HULL VForv vEssELs lApplication filed November 10,1926. Serial No. 147,492.

' The present invention relates to a non-sinkable hull .for vessels andaims to pro-vide a hull of this character having a series of aircontaining cells, compartments, or chambers therein constructed andarranged in such a manner that the walls of each cell or compartmentwill support other cells or compartments so as to eliminate damage to agreat extent to a great number of compartments in Case of damage to thehull.

Another object of the invention is to provide a series of cells orcompartments in the hull of a vessel around and below the water level,each cell or compartment having lint cotton, or like material, tightlypacked therein and air forced therein under pressure.

A further object of the invention is the provision of an air line toeach cell or compartment, each of said lines having an air gauge andcheck valve thereon so that all cells or compartments may be regulatedto contain the same pressure therein and to permit the determiningwithout delay what cells are leaking or have been damaged in case of anaccident.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a novel and improvedhull of this character which is substantial in construction, may beeasily constructed during the construct-ing of a hull of a vessel, andwhich will be thoroughly eiiicient and practical in use.

lith the foregoing and other objects in view, which will be apparent asthe description proceeds, the invention resides in the construction andarrangementl of parts, as hereinafter described and claimed, it beingunderstood that changes can be made Within the scope of what is claimed,without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a horizontal section taken through the upper series of cellsor compartments,

i Figure 2 is a like section taken through the lower cells orcompartments, and

Figure 3 is a vertical cross section taken on line 3-3 of Figure 1.

In carrying out the invention, the hull 10 is constructed with the usualside walls 11,

andbottom wall 12. Spaced from the boti tom Wall 12 to extend across thehull and attached to the side walls 11 is a partition 13` the centerportion of which forms a floor. Between the horizontal partition 13 andthe bottom 12 are a series of longitudinally eX- tending Walls orpartitions 14, between which andthe sides ofthe vessel are diagonalpartition plates 15, providing compartments 16 triangular in crosssection. The partition y plates 15 are arranged so that the corners ofeach compartment connect at the corners of contiguous compartments, thusproviding a rigid structure for the hull which will reduce to a greatextent the collapsing or damaging of a great number of compartments whena severe blow or shock occurs at the walls of the hull of the'vessel. jBy referring to Figure 2 of the drawings, it can be seen how eachcompartment is'reinforced or supported against damage by othercompartments.

Supported 'upon the Vpartitionor Hoor 13 at each side of the hull and ateach end thereof' are longitudinal and diagonal partitions 19 and 2Orespectively providing compartments 18 triangular in cross section.There are no compartments 18 in the center of the vessel but'only at thesides and ends of the hull thereof, thereby providing a longitudinalchamber or room at the center of the hull of which the central portionofthe partition 13 forms -the floor. The longitudinal partitions` 19extend the full length of the hull and the diagonal partitions betweenthe same and the sides of the vessel form the triangularly shapedcompartments. It will be noted at the ends of the hull the triangularlyshaped compartments are arranged at right angles to those at the sidewalls so that incase the bow or stern of the vessel strikes an object oris struck by an object, the undamaged comi partments will support thehull being braced against Water pressure inthe damaged compartments. l vl i Each of the compartments is iilled with lint 9? cotton, or likematerial, packed in very-tightly, and connected to each of Ithe,compart-y ments is an air' line 22 which extends to a point above thefloor 13 at the center of theV hull. Each air line is provided with anair 190 gauge 23 and a check valve 24 so that air pressure in eachcompartment can be determined from the center of the hull. At the end ofeach air line beyond the check valve is a nipple or coupling member 25so as to permit an air hose to be attached thereto in order to supplyair to the compartment the line leads to.

By providing lint cotton, or like material, in each compartment, whenthe sides or bottom of the hull of the vessel is punctured or broken,the air in the compartment adjacent thereto will immediately startescaping through the hole, thus jamming or packing the ylint cottoninthe hole and closing the same so as to prevent water entering the hullof the Vessel. In case waterdoes enter theA hull, the compartments areair-tight and water will only enter the compartment which has beendamaged. j The lint cotton also provides a cushioning means which willbe found ver eicient during time of war, as alarge shel striking thehull of the vessel will be retarded against'forward movement due to thereaction of the packing. Also, when a large object has been struck bythe vessel, such as aniceberg, or the like, very little harm is done, asthe cotton in the hull will act to absorb the shock and prevent seriousdamage to the hull. vllien an object is struck by the sides or bottom ofthe hull, it will bend until the contiguous compartment is tightlypacked relieving strain on the` wall of the hull by imparting it to thecompartment and compartments adjacent thereto. By forming thecompartments in triangular shape and having the corners of the wallsthereof connected at the corners of other contiguous compartments, thehull ofthe vessel is reinforced so that it is practically one yieldableunit provided with air-tight cells each protected and supported by cellsadj acent thereto. By providing'the valves at the ends of the air linesand locating them within the chamber or room between the upper set ofcompartments andy above thelower set of compartments access to saidvalves may be easily gained in case ofleakage of a valve, thuseliminating the necessity of tearing compartments out in order to repaira valve. Also, by arranging the valves and gauges yat a point wherevaccess may be easily gained thereto, it can be determined loo' easilywhich cell has been damaged and the extent of damage by observing theair gaugel in the line leading thereto.

, Havingthus described my invention, what I claim as new is:

In combination with the sides and bottom of a vessel of a horizontalpartition above the bottom withspaced longitudinal and diag onalvertical partitions intermediate said horizontal partition and bottom ofthe vessel to provide a large number of reinforced compartmentstriangular in cross-section, longitudinal and transverse partitionsabove said horizontal partition at opposite sides of the center of thehull and extending slightly above the Water line, horizontal partitionsconnecting the upper ends of the last mentioned longitudinal partitionsto leave an open space at the center of the hull above the lowerhorizontal partition, and diagonal partitions between the aforesaidlongitudinal and transverse partitions to form a large number ofcompartments triangular. in crosssection around the vessel at the waterline; together with pipe lines leading fromV the compartments to theopen space or room at the center of the hull between the compartments atthe water line.

l uIn testimony whereof, I have affixed my signature.

WILLIAM H. OWEN.

